Claw-bar.



F. LIMER.

CLAW BAR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 22, 1914.

1 131 393 Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

3mm 8 FL/MER Wbnumo Wm 60 ME m FRANK LIMER, OF MoWI-IORTER, WESTVIRGINIA.

CLAW-BAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed April 22, 1914. Serial No. 833,731.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LIMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mo- Whorter, in the county of Harrison and State of WestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Claw-Bars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in claw bars and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use for withdrawing spikes, driftbolts and similar fastening members; and an object of the invention isto provide a device of this general character having novel and improvedmeans whereby the force exerted upon the operating lever not only tendsto withdraw the fastening member but also causes the gripping jaws tofirmly engage the same.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character including relatively movable grippingjaws which will be brought into clamping engagement with the fasteningmember when the operating lever is depressed and reversely moved whensuch lever is lifted or elevated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this generalcharacter including relatively movable gripping jaws pivotally engagedwith an operating lever and provided with novel and improved meanswhereby such gripping jaws are held against relatively independentrotation about their pivotal connections with the lever.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts whereby certainimportant advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler,less ex pensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use,all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theappended claim.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to ole scribe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational new of a clawbar constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, one ofthe clamping members or nuts of the pivotal connection being omitted;Fig. 2 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. l but with one of the jawsomitted and certain of the parts shown in section; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially on the line 4 l of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is asectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6is a view in perspective, detached, of one of the clamping jaws hereinincluded.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a claw dividedlongitudinally to afford the companion jaws 22. The jaws orcomplementary parts 2 of the claw are similarly formed and havedepressions in their opposed faces midway of their ends, which unitedlyprovide a recess or mortise 8 in which is fitted the lower end of theoperating lever 4. The front ends of the jaws 2 are cut-away at theirinner sides forming a depression or cavity 5 to receive the head of aspike, bolt or the like, to which the implement is fitted, when it isdesired to draw the same. It will also be observed that the depressionor cavity 5 provides the cutting or biting edges 6 which are adapted toimpinge or penetrate the fastener sufficiently to draw the same withoutcoaction with the head thereof, as is believed to be self-evident tothose skilled in the art to which my in vention appertains. The undersurfaces of the j aws 2 have their forward portions rounded, asindicated at 7, so that such aws may serve to afford a fulcrum on whichthe device, as a whole, will rock in order that requisite upwardmovement may be created to effect a draw of the fastening member.

As herein disclosed, the operating lever A is pivotally engaged with thejaws 22 through the medium of the transverse bolt 8 directed throughregistering openings produced in such jaws and the lower extremity ofthe lever 4, the openings 9 in the jaws being of a diameter in excess ofthe diameter of the bolt so that such jaws are capable of a relativelateral movement so that the knife edges 6 thereof may be caused to bebrought in requisite engagement with the fastening member to be drawn.

The operating lever 4 in close proximity to its pivotal portion has itsunder longitudinal face formed into the wedge portion 10 which isnormally positioned between the opposed faces of the rear ends of thejaws 2 and as the operating lever is depressed such wedge portion 10serves to impart the requisite lateral movement to the jaws 2 as toassure the proper engagement of such jaws with the fastening member tobe withdrawn, as is believed to be clearly obvious. The upper portion ofthe lever member adjacent its lower extremity is provided with aforwardly directed wedge member 11 adapted to be received between theopposed faces of the forward portion of the jaws 2 and causing the sameto separate automatically when the operating lever 1 is lifted orelevated, and the extent of separation of such engaging end portions ofthe jaws 2-2 is limited by contact of the shoulders 12-12 provided onthe operating lever 4 with the adjacent upper portions of the jaws 2, asis believed to be clearly shown in the accompanying drawings.

In practice I have found that it is particularly desirable that the jaws2 be maintained against relative independent rotation about the pivotalbolt 8 and, as herein disclosed, the rear or heel portion 1 1 of one ofthe jaws 2 is provided with a transverse opening 15 adapted to looselyaccommodate the finger or pin 16 projecting laterally from the opposedface of the rear or heel portion 17 of the complementary jaw 2. Tofurther prevent relative independent movement of the jaws 2-2 about thepivotal bolt 8, I also find it of advantage to provide a forward portion18 of one of the jaws 2 with a lateral finger or projection 19 adaptedto be loosely accommodated within the lateral groove or recess 20produced in the forward portion 21 of the complementary jaw 2 and, asherein disclosed, such recess or groove 20 is produced in the forwardwall of the recess of such jaw, which serves to afford the mortise 3. Itis also to be observed that the projections or fingers 16 and 19 arereversely directed as are the opening 15 and recess or groove 20.

From the foregoing description, it is and facility with which it may beassembled 1 and by reason of the effectiveness with which it performsits functions, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some change and modification without material departurefrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement andformation of the several parts-herein shown in carrying out my inventionin practice.

I claim: a

A device of the character described comprising an operating lever,gripping jaws pivotally connected intermediate of their lengths with thelower extremity of said lever and capable of relative lateral rockingmovement, one of said jaws being provided with a lateral recess in itsinner face in advance of its pivotal connection with the lever, alaterally directed inwardly disposed finger carried by the coacting jawin advance of its pivotal connection with the lever and looselyaccommodated within the lateral recess of the first named jaw, oneofsaid jaws rearwardly of its pivotal connection with the lever beingprovided with a transverse opening, an inwardly disposed laterallydirected finger carried by the adjacent jaw and directed within saidopening, and means carried by the operating lever for imparting relativetransverse rocking movement to the jaws in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

FRANK LIMER. Witnesses:

A. D. VVILKINs, M. W. LIMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0.

